Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Grand Canyon on November 25, 2025 at 10 PM
10 PM
Men's Basketball
vs Grand Canyon
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
![Oregon [Exh]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Futahutes.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2Foregon.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
![Nevada [Exh]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Futahutes.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2FNevadaAthletics_Navy.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
The University of Utah Athletics
Thursday, November 17
Salt Lake City, UT
7:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
Sam Houston State
Photo by: Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics
Runnin' Utes Kick Off Ft. Myers Tip-Off with Sam Houston Thursday Night
11/15/2022 7:01 PM | Men's Basketball
The Utah men’s basketball team will face Sam Houston on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. (MT).
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team will kick off its participation in the Ft. Myers Tip-Off this Thursday, Nov. 17, when it entertains Sam Houston as part of the campus game inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Â
Krista Blunk will have the call alongside Dan Belluomini as the Runnin' Utes and Bearkats face off on Pac-12 Mountain at 7 p.m. Thursday evening – which will serve as the first meeting between the two programs.
Â
IN THE NATION
Through games on Nov. 14, here's how some of the Utes stack up against other players nationally.
Â
Â
20 POINT SCORERS
Through games on Nov. 14, Utah is 1-of-7 schools from a major conference to have had a player score 20-plus points in three different games so far this season per Stats Perform.
Â
Arizona State
Baylor
DePaul
Illinois
Utah
Virginia Tech
Washington
Â
SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
Sam Houston heads into Thursday's match-up 3-0 just like the Utes. The Bearkats opened the season with a signature win for the program, narrowly edging Oklahoma 52-51 on the road for its first win over a Power 5 program since knocking off Auburn in 2009 and first for head coach Jason Hooten. It is also the first time SHSU has started a season 3-0 since 2013-14.
Â
Lamar Wilkerson leads the trio of players averaging in double-digits for Sam Houston with 11.7 points per game to go with a .583 clip and team-high seven 3-pointers (7-of-14). Giovanni Emejuru is right behind averaging 10.5 points with a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game and .692 shooting clip. Qua Grant rounds out the list averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists with a .448 shooting percentage. Kaosi Ezeagu isn't far off from the trio averaging 8.7 points and 5.7 rebounds while also shooting 60-percent from the field. Of the four, Emejuru is the only player that isn't transfer.
Â
The Bearkats have been dominating their opponents in the paint, scoring 65.6-percent of their points inside the paint. They've also been big on the glass, out-rebounding foes 153-94 through three games this season. However, Sam Houston has struggled at the line, hitting just 50-percent of its shots (18-for-36).
Â
Nationally, SHSU is second in defensive field-goal percentage (.269), bench points per game (50.33); third in scoring defense (44), rebounds per game (51.0), offensive rebounds per game (18.33); fourth in turnover margin (11.3); sixth in scoring margin (41.3); seventh in rebounding margin (19.7); 14th in turnovers forced per game (22.33); 19th in assists/turnover ratio (1.88); 21st in defensive rebounds per game (32.67) and 22nd in assists per game (20.7).
Â
LAST TIME OUT
The Utah men's basketball team had its hands full on Monday against Idaho State, but was able to pull away in the final 9:39 minutes of play after the Bengals brought it within one. The 17-6 run by Utah in those final minutes led by 11 from senior Branden Carlson put away any hope the Bengals had of an upset. Carlson finished with a career-high 26 points on nine rebounds with four blocks while Gabe Madsen added eight points and a career-high eight rebounds. Mike Saunders Jr. chipped in with nine points off the bench in the victory.
Â
Freshman Luka Tarlac made his collegiate debut finally against the Bengals after missing the first two games due to an injury and recorded eight points on 4-of-4 shooting with four rebounds.
Â
UP NEXT
The Runnin' Utes will leave its homecourt for the first time this season as they head to Ft. Myers, Fla., for the Ft. Myers Tip-Off event. Utah opens up the Multi-Team Event (MTE) with Georgia Tech on Monday, Nov. 21, at 4 p.m. (MT) before facing either Marquette or Mississippi State on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 4 or 6 p.m. (MT). Both games for Utah will air on FS1 with Brandon Gaudin and Bill Raftery on the call.
Â
LOOKING AHEAD
Utah will have a short turnaround when it returns to SLC as it plays host to St. Thomas on Saturday, Nov. 26. The Tommies are entering their second year in Division I after years of success at the DII level. St. Thomas is currently 2-1 on the year after giving preseason #9 Creighton a run for its money on opening night before falling 72-60. That game between the Utes and Tommies is scheduled to tip-off at 6 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks with Jacob Tobey and Dan Belluomini on the call.
Â
For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Â
Â
Krista Blunk will have the call alongside Dan Belluomini as the Runnin' Utes and Bearkats face off on Pac-12 Mountain at 7 p.m. Thursday evening – which will serve as the first meeting between the two programs.
Â
IN THE NATION
Through games on Nov. 14, here's how some of the Utes stack up against other players nationally.
Â
| Player | Statistic | Rank | Value |
| Branden Carlson | Blocks | 7 | 9 |
| Branden Carlson | Field Goals | 10 | 24 |
| Lazar Stefanovic | Assist/Turnover Ratio | 11 | 10.0 |
| Branden Carlson | Blocks per Game | 15 | 3.00 |
| Branden Carlson | Points | 20 | 59 |
| Gabe Madsen | 3-Point FGM | 20 | 10 |
20 POINT SCORERS
Through games on Nov. 14, Utah is 1-of-7 schools from a major conference to have had a player score 20-plus points in three different games so far this season per Stats Perform.
Â
Arizona State
Baylor
DePaul
Illinois
Utah
Virginia Tech
Washington
Â
SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
Sam Houston heads into Thursday's match-up 3-0 just like the Utes. The Bearkats opened the season with a signature win for the program, narrowly edging Oklahoma 52-51 on the road for its first win over a Power 5 program since knocking off Auburn in 2009 and first for head coach Jason Hooten. It is also the first time SHSU has started a season 3-0 since 2013-14.
Â
Lamar Wilkerson leads the trio of players averaging in double-digits for Sam Houston with 11.7 points per game to go with a .583 clip and team-high seven 3-pointers (7-of-14). Giovanni Emejuru is right behind averaging 10.5 points with a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game and .692 shooting clip. Qua Grant rounds out the list averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists with a .448 shooting percentage. Kaosi Ezeagu isn't far off from the trio averaging 8.7 points and 5.7 rebounds while also shooting 60-percent from the field. Of the four, Emejuru is the only player that isn't transfer.
Â
The Bearkats have been dominating their opponents in the paint, scoring 65.6-percent of their points inside the paint. They've also been big on the glass, out-rebounding foes 153-94 through three games this season. However, Sam Houston has struggled at the line, hitting just 50-percent of its shots (18-for-36).
Â
Nationally, SHSU is second in defensive field-goal percentage (.269), bench points per game (50.33); third in scoring defense (44), rebounds per game (51.0), offensive rebounds per game (18.33); fourth in turnover margin (11.3); sixth in scoring margin (41.3); seventh in rebounding margin (19.7); 14th in turnovers forced per game (22.33); 19th in assists/turnover ratio (1.88); 21st in defensive rebounds per game (32.67) and 22nd in assists per game (20.7).
Â
LAST TIME OUT
The Utah men's basketball team had its hands full on Monday against Idaho State, but was able to pull away in the final 9:39 minutes of play after the Bengals brought it within one. The 17-6 run by Utah in those final minutes led by 11 from senior Branden Carlson put away any hope the Bengals had of an upset. Carlson finished with a career-high 26 points on nine rebounds with four blocks while Gabe Madsen added eight points and a career-high eight rebounds. Mike Saunders Jr. chipped in with nine points off the bench in the victory.
Â
Freshman Luka Tarlac made his collegiate debut finally against the Bengals after missing the first two games due to an injury and recorded eight points on 4-of-4 shooting with four rebounds.
Â
UP NEXT
The Runnin' Utes will leave its homecourt for the first time this season as they head to Ft. Myers, Fla., for the Ft. Myers Tip-Off event. Utah opens up the Multi-Team Event (MTE) with Georgia Tech on Monday, Nov. 21, at 4 p.m. (MT) before facing either Marquette or Mississippi State on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 4 or 6 p.m. (MT). Both games for Utah will air on FS1 with Brandon Gaudin and Bill Raftery on the call.
Â
LOOKING AHEAD
Utah will have a short turnaround when it returns to SLC as it plays host to St. Thomas on Saturday, Nov. 26. The Tommies are entering their second year in Division I after years of success at the DII level. St. Thomas is currently 2-1 on the year after giving preseason #9 Creighton a run for its money on opening night before falling 72-60. That game between the Utes and Tommies is scheduled to tip-off at 6 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks with Jacob Tobey and Dan Belluomini on the call.
Â
For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Â
###
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballUtah: 85, Cal Poly: 92 | Utah Basketball Postgame Press Conference
Friday, November 21
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Basketball's James Okonkwo
Thursday, November 20
Utah: 85, Purdue Fort Wayne: 77 | Utah Basketball Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, November 19
Utah Basketball Media Availability | 11.17.25
Monday, November 17